Which Way to Turn?

You are flying the VOR-A approach into Salem Memorial (K33) in your Cessna 182. The airport has no tower, with Class E airspace starting at 700 feet AGL. The winds favor Runway 17. You dive n drive after the DME stepdown and break out at 680 feet AGL with the runway in sight two miles ahead. Do you (a) cross midfield and make left downwind to 17, or (b) turn right to the upwind leg for Runway 17 and make left traffic from there, or (c) turn left before reaching the airport and make right traffic for 17.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

IFR flights, including circling approaches at uncontrolled airports, must generally adhere to standard traffic pattern rules (e.g., left turns per 14 CFR 91.126(b)), a requirement consistently affirmed by the FAA Chief Counsel for safety.
The ability to deviate from standard traffic patterns depends on the airspace: ATC cannot authorize such deviations in Class G airspace, but can do so in Class E surface areas, where VFR traffic separation considerations differ.
Pilots hold ultimate responsibility for safety; adhering to minimum regulatory standards ("legal") does not always ensure an operation is "safe," especially during complex maneuvers like circling approaches where standard traffic patterns should be considered.

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You are flying the VOR-A approach into Salem Memorial (K33) in your Cessna 182. The airport has no tower, with Class E airspace starting at 700 feet AGL. The winds favor Runway 17. You “dive ‘n drive” after the DME stepdown and break out at 680 feet AGL with the runway in sight two miles ahead. Do you (a) cross midfield and make left downwind to 17, or (b) turn right to the upwind leg for Runway 17 and make left traffic from there, or (c) turn left before reaching the airport and make right traffic for 17.

All three sound like reasonable choices. Each will enable you to keep the runway in sight while maneuvering for landing. If you choose (c) because, after all, you are IFR, you’re not alone. But you probably busted 14 CFR 91.126(b).